Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Grant Gordon, Creative Director
Key Gordon Communications

Key Gordon is an ethical advertising and design boutique that specializes in meeting the communications needs of companies that have made contributing to a sustainable environment a core principle. Renowned for exceptional creativity, the Key Gordon team comprises branding, advertising, design, and media placement experts, who provide a full complement of communications services to clients. Key Gordon’s portfolio includes many of the premier names in the environmental movement, along with major corporations that have put a strong focus on sustainability programs.

Grant is also one of the innovators behind the international campaign known as FLICKOFF.

Ruth Marr, M.Sc., President
Marr Consulting Services

As the President of Marr Consulting Services and founder of Randonnée Tours, Ruth brings knowledge and passion to consulting assignments. A M.Sc. in Plant Ecology was the impetus for an initial career in environmental consulting. A love of travel and active pursuits, such as cycling and hiking, led to the creation of an innovative adventure travel business. The two experiences combine for a unique perspective on business, tourism and the environment. Ruth acts on her knowledge and love of these topics every day, with a strong emphasis on practical and business-oriented solutions, and has garnered an excellent reputation in the industry.  Her business experience ensures that projects are rooted in reality , whether the subject is tourism, active transportation, environmental studies or public consultation. Ruth is also a published author of guidebooks on cycling and walking in Manitoba. She is very involved in volunteer activities that complement these interests.

Keeping with the theme of the 2008 Yukon Tourism Industry Conference, Ruth will be presenting the "Sustainable Tourism Toolkit", which was developed for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). In this project, Marr Consulting is developing practical and concrete tools for the tourism industry, especially small and medium enterprises, to help integrate sustainability into their products, services and operations. The Toolkit will build on TIAC’s Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism established in 2005.

Paul Nursey, Manager, Product Innovation and Enhancement
Canadian Tourism Commission

Paul Nursey is currently the Manager, Product Innovation and Enhancement at the Canadian Tourism Commission in Vancouver.   In that role Paul and his team of three Product Officers are responsible for working with partners and identifying experiences to showcase in all Canadian Tourism Commission marketing, sales and communications channels, ensuring that these are aligned with the Commission’s strategy and customer segments. Driven by research, the work is all about advancing Canada’s dynamic tourism brand through differentiated experiences.

Paul was previously a member of the US Leisure Marketing team at the Canadian Tourism Commission.  Prior to joining the Canadian Tourism Commission, Paul held a variety of positions in the British Columbia tourism and recreation industries including Director of Sales for Tourism Vancouver, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mount Seymour Resorts and also worked as a Train Manager at Rocky Mountaineer Vacations for five summer seasons.

Paul always remembers his time working at small and medium sized private sector companies when contemplating decisions and is dedicated to working with provincial partners to ensure that all voices are heard when developing strategies and then executing them.  Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in Regional Planning and Economics from Simon Fraser University.

Dee Enright
Outside The Cube Management Consulting Inc.

Dee Enright is a respected and well known marketer in Canada, and in particular, the tourism industry. Her background in broadcast and agencies means she has worked with tourism DMO's,  Governments, McDonalds, Coke, Canada Games and Bell on domestic and international marketing, from research, to strategy development, to implementation. She recognized early on in her role as Vice President Cossette Media, an international marketing firm, the power of online, and worked with clients to maximize their approaches and integrate e-marketing into their strategies.  Dee has been recognized for her innovations for PEI Tourism at the Media Innovation Awards and the Ice Awards.

At Outside the Cube, Dee works with a number of clients in sectors such as sport tourism, tourism, entertainment and broadcast.  She has just finished project managing the largest campaign ever launched by the three Territorial Governments- lookUPnorth.ca to promote tourism to Canada's North.  She is currently acting as a consultant to AJE Productions, an international award winning broadcast production company exploring the world of webcasts.  Dee has been a guest speaker and presenter for tourism, media, strategy, brand and the internet. Dynamic, engaging and informative she interacts in a memorable way with her audiences.

Dee is a board member of the TIA Yukon and the former member of the Senior Marketing Committee for the Yukon Government.

Alastair Smith
Outside The Cube Management Consulting Inc.

A graduate of the University of Guelph with a degree in computer science, he was appointed General Manager of Bitcasters Inc. at the tender age of 22.  In that role Alastair worked with clients in the entertainment and music industry such as Craig Media, Disney, Family Channel, Miramax and Universal Music. Long before others were even thinking about integrating technology into their approaches, these companies were going to Bitcasters to launch their online properties. His passion for marketing with his technology savvy means that he presents real solutions for clients - ones that work.  He also helps them understand the risks.

At Outside the Cube he has worked with the Canada Games, Information Technology Societies, Department of Justice, Sport Tourism and E commerce clients.  Alastair has written a number of white papers on e-commerce, technology strategies and has been a guest speaker at Ryerson University.  At the ripe old age of 27 he is now almost a grandfather of the technology world!  His presentations are always a hit, as not only does he know technology, he uses it to his advantage to entertain his audiences.

Pierre Germain - Director
Yukon Government – Department of
Tourism & Culture - Tourism Branch

Pierre Germain was appointed Director of Tourism for the Department of Tourism and Culture (Tourism Yukon) April 1, 2005 and is responsible for all aspects of tourism marketing, product development and research for the Yukon Government. Since joining the Department of Tourism and Culture in 1991, Mr. Germain has held a number of positions including Director of Marketing, Manager of Travel Trade, Marketing Officer North America and Market Research Officer. Born and raised in the Yukon, he is a graduate of the University of Victoria and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.  Prior to joining the Yukon Government Pierre held a variety of management positions within the cruise tour and accommodation sectors.

Mr. Germain has held a number of positions on numerous committees including the Canadian Tourism Commission’s US Leisure, Asia/Pacific and European Executive committees, the Alaska Travel Industry Association’s Marketing Committee, the Tourism Alliance for Western and Northern Canada, the Canada’s North Tourism Marketing Partnership, the 2007 Canada Winter Games National Marketing Campaign and numerous marketing committees within the Yukon including the Yukon Tourism Marketing Partnership, the Senior Marketing Committee, the Yukon Convention Bureau and the Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon.

Denny Kobayashi - CAE,  Manager of Marketing Operations – The Americas
Yukon Government – Department of Tourism & Culture – Tourism Branch

Mr. Kobayashi has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, holds a post-graduate professional designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts – Tourism Management Program at Royal Roads University.

Born and raised in Winfield, British Columbia, Mr. Kobayashi moved to the Yukon in 1980 living in the communities of Whitehorse and Dawson City.  He is the proud father of three young women who were born and raised in the Yukon.

Mr. Kobayashi worked in the retail food industry for twenty years, including eight years as the owner-operator of retail supermarkets in Denver, Colorado, Prince Rupert B.C. and two businesses in Dawson City, Yukon.   Mr. Kobayashi has worked in senior management positions in the non-profit sector for more than ten years.  Prior to joining the Government of Yukon in April 2000, Mr. Kobayashi was the Executive Director and CEO of the Klondike Visitors Association in Dawson City, Yukon responsible to manage the Association’s business interests that included Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino and the Palace Grand Theatre as well as functioning as the Director of Marketing.

In his current position Mr. Kobayashi is responsible for all Tourism marketing activities in North and Latin America including trade and consumer marketing campaigns, websites, advertising programs, print collateral, media, public relations and photography.  Mr. Kobayashi represents the Government of Yukon – Department of Tourism & Culture on several national and international committees including the Canadian Tourism Commission’s – Americas Leisure Committee, Canada’s E-Marketing Council, Yukon Tourism Marketing Partnership – Senior Marketing Committee, Tourism North and co-chairs the Yukon Government’s 2010 Interdepartmental Committee.

Mr. Kobayashi currently leads the team that implements the Yukon Brand Strategy, Interactive Strategy and develops Tourism Yukon’s Three-Year Strategic Plan for North and Latin America.

Colin MacDonald - Research Officer
Yukon Government: Department of Tourism and Culture

Colin MacDonald is a Research Officer with the Yukon Government's Department of Tourism and Culture.  In this capacity, he is responsible for managing and designing research projects and disseminating research to tourism stakeholders throughout the territory.  Colin is a new addition to the north and happily spends his time soaking up everything the Yukon has to offer.

Shannon McNevin- Product Development Officer
Tourism Product Development & Research - Yukon Tourism & Culture

Shannon McNevin, began working with the Department of Tourism and Culture in the marketing unit in 2003 until she received a full time position in 2005 with the product development and research unit. She was employed in the hospitality sector for many years and has been working in the tourism industry for the past 12 years with the majority of those in private sector. She has extensive inbound/receptive tour operator experience packaging and selling products to Yukon and Alaska and the rest of Canada. She gladly shares this insight with those venturing into the business of tourism. She also administers the Product Development Partnership Program and works closely with Yukon's tourism associations on projects that are a benefit to Yukon's tourism industry as a whole.